Obituary: Freda Kawharu

Obituary - By MERATA KAWHARU

Artist, teacher. Born January 1, 1934. Died
on October 10, aged 66

No single quality adequately describes the gifts Freda Kawharu gave to her family and people in and beyond Tai Tokerau. Her sudden departure has left a gap.

She was one of the first Maori women graduates of fine arts in New Zealand. Her talents, particularly in painting and Maori arts, were known among her peers and, more publicly, through exhibitions such as Karanga Karanga in 1986, the first major feature of prominent Maori women artists' work.

Two years later she opened another exhibition, Nga Kaupapa Here Aho, at the Taumata Art Gallery in Auckland.

She was one of the main authors of the first volume of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, in which she wrote a major piece on Hone Heke Pokai, the first signatory to the Treaty of Waitangi, who cut down the Russell flagpole.

It was not only in art and writing that she made an impression. She was a teacher of physical education and also played representative sport. She was picked for North and South Island teams at indoor basketball, was a cricket representative and a talented hurdler.

In Kaitaia during the 1950s she formed a group that became the Kaitaia Young Maori Club, and within a short time it had performed at Ngaruawahia and returned with trophies. But these make up only a small part of the colourful picture that was her life.

She gave of herself generously and achieved so much despite a life brushed with tragedy. Born Freda Rankin, her parents died when she was young and was left looking after two elderly and unwell guardians in Paekakariki.

Her siblings by then were embarking on careers, Jim a doctor, Irirangi a nurse and the eldest sister, Martha Moon, had a prominent role in the Maori Wardens Association.

Freda's service to others continued throughout her life. Her gentle nature, eloquence and fierce determination to provide opportunity and help others to realise their own potential helped to champion Maori land development initiatives.

She was a member of management committees for the Otakanini Incorporation, South Kaipara and Oromahoe Trust in the Bay of Islands.

Had her last five years not been plagued by the debilitating effects of paraplegia, there is no doubt she would have achieved more. Even in illness, her compassion for others and determination to overcome chronic pain was an inspiration.

She is survived by her husband, Sir Hugh Kawharu, daughters Merata, Amokura and Margaret, Evelyn and Lindy and her mokopuna.